Hayden slid his cock into her very slick folds as he reached around to her front with a hand and rubbed her clit in just the right way that made her so pliable to anything. Without warning, he spread her ass and pushed his cock against her hole, easing himself in.
She had lost the ability to speak as he eased himself in, inch by inch. His hands gripped her hips, firmly, but not too hard, just enough to hold her until he was fully seated. Then he smacked her ass again and she tightened her muscles against him. “That’s it. Nice and tight.”
“Too much,” she said. Before she could try to pull away, his hand returned to her clit, making her squirm and push back into him.
“That’s it, baby, fuck me,” he said, treating her to small thrusts that brought a new sensation she hadn’t felt in too long. She felt full, connected to Hayden, as a new energy wrapped around her, one that made her feel beautiful and invincible.
She fell into a rhythm, pushing back into him, slowly taking control, loving how he moaned when she pushed back particularly hard and fast. It was fascinating, empowering even, until the orgasm crashed down on her, destroying her ability to move.
“You were supposed to wait, sunshine,” he said as he picked up where she had left off, his hand no longer rubbing her clit as he eased in and out of her, unbelievably slow. His arm remained curved around her, possessive, protective, as if he owned her. She wished that were so. She would never truly be his without the blood-bond, and he wouldn’t be hers.
“Forgot,” she said as his thrusts intensified. Two thick fingers entered her core, spiking a new wave of sensations. Sensitive flesh protested at first, but Hayden persisted, determined to bring her to that cliff once more.
“You won’t forget again,” he said, pinching her clit. A sharp wave traveled through her and he stopped his thrusts, drawing her back from the edge he’d just sent her to. “You do as I say, or I’ll make that beautiful ass of yours too red to sit on. You’ll have to lay on top of me for a week.”
“Promise?”
He chuckled as those slow, wicked thrusts resumed. He nipped at her earlobe, sending her eyes rolling back in her head. Her body started tightening as the wave approached.
“Not yet,” he whispered. “You come with me.”
One final and hard thrust sent his balls slapping against her clit.
“Fuck yes, Mila,” he moaned.
That deep, sensuous moan of his was the final push she needed. She couldn’t stop the wave from crashing over her. Nor could her brain string two words together as the wave ripped through her. Guttural sounds tore from her throat as the wave picked her up and sent her flying. Hayden had stopped moving. He lay there draped over her back, his mouth at her ear, breathing heavily as his warm seed pumped into her.
Together, as one. But still apart.
Several soft kisses followed, placed at the base of her neck as he eased out of her. She nearly cried at the loss of his body from inside of her, on her, as his mouth kissed a path down her spine ending just above her ass.
Then he was gone, heading into the bathroom. She collapsed onto the bed.
The faucet in the bathroom was running, the old pipes groaning slightly until he shut the water. The sound of a washcloth moving against him seemed so distant. That’s how she felt now, distant. That’s how she’d always feel without the bond, even when he was only a few feet away. It’s what Kate, Anna, and Tess had all gone on and oy about, how that connection brought them closer together to their mates, more than they’d ever imagined.
More than anything, Mila wanted that with Hayden.
She could hear him breathing nearby, then a cold hand slid over her ass. “You haven’t moved, sunshine.”
He drew her into his lap where he cradled her. She tipped the blindfold off. Hayden was scowling. . . not the expression she expected. She buried herself into his chest, her eyes clamped tight as he wrapped both arms around her and kissed her forehead.
“Mila. . .” He didn’t say much after that, and she felt like a fool. He’d probably think he had hurt her, when it was she who was hurting him.
“No more of this, Mila,” he said. “Enough already. You can’t keep punishing yourself, taking the weight of the world on you. You are what God made you, and I love every part of you. There is nothing you could ever say or do that would make me love you less.”
Then she heard a swish and smelled blood. Coppery, fresh blood. She eased away from Hayden’s chest to see his left hand bloody from a long slice down the middle, the knife still in his right hand.
“Give me your right palm, Mila.” His voice was steady, commanding, patient, and so very confident.
“Are you sure, Hayden?”
“Will you always be there for me, Mila?”
She wiped away her tears as she nodded.
“Then I’m sure.” It was more than his words or even his voice, but something in his look. She knew Hayden was fine with the repercussions, that blood-bonding her meant more to him than the abilities he’d lose.
She held out her right palm and locked eyes with him. He looked away only long enough to slice her palm. The sting of the pain was nothing compared to the pain her soul released the moment he clasped her hand with his, joining their blood, creating the bond that would forever tie them to one another.
This beautiful shifter, the one who would give up everything for her, was the other half of her soul. He had done more than save her from a series of depraved shifters and a past of loneliness, he had saved her from drowning in a sea of hopelessness. He shared his strength, his love, his soul with her, and she finally understood that no matter what happened, as long as they were together, they would want for nothing.
* * *
HAYDEN
Hayden clasped Mila’s hand in his, entwining their fingers, as they walked to the lake for the Running of the Moon. The kids had had their mock run earlier in the day and tonight was the adults’ turn. His mate was quiet after the blood-bonding. Already he could feel the bond between them, the way her anxiety rolled through her, only to reach out for him and finally calm down. He peeked along the bond, trying to find what was at the core of her fears. She was stronger than she realized, and he knew she would continue to gain confidence in who she was.
Ah, there, he found it. She still worried about his strength. Her worries mounted as they approached the lake where everyone would strip, shift, and run. She thought he was sacrificing for her, giving up his strength, but having the bond was something she had dreamed about her whole life, and he wouldn’t let her give it up because of him. In truth, he had wanted the blood-bond his whole life as well, though it had always seemed a fleeting dream. Now that he had found her, that dream had become reality. The bond was there. Mila and he had succeeded. They had won, no matter the outcome of their shifter abilities.
“It will be fine, sunshine.”
“I know,” she said, her smile trying to hide the worry he felt over the bond.
He kissed her, long and hard until he heard whistles around them. They were here to run, not make out. No, that would come later, when he had her deep in the woods, alone and under the moon. If they couldn’t go to Drake’s pack because it was too dangerous without his strength, then he would stay here, where she had her friends, the lab, and a pack that accepted her. He could stay on as Damien’s counsel, and let another strong shifter take his place as second. It would be enough, more than enough, because he would have Mila, and that’s all he needed and wanted.
“Let’s do this!” Damien called out from the rocks at the front of the lake. “But first, let’s call up the newly blood-bonded pair.”
“Fuck, Damien. Can’t you keep your nose out of anything?” Hayden said.
“I can. Tess can’t.” That earned Damien an elbow to the ribs.
Mila placed her hand over her mouth as she laughed. Well, they hadn’t exactly covered up the scars on their palms and the faint scent of blood remained. It was hard keeping secrets in a camp full of shifters. The scars
would disappear in a few hours or days if their healing abilities had declined with the blood-bond.
“Lady’s first,” Hayden said. “I expect to see some jumping and joy even if you don’t shift fast after blood-bonding. This is to be celebrated, Mila, not looked at as anything less than what it is, a celebration of our bond.” He kissed her. She hesitated for just a moment, nodded and then shifted, fast!
She did just as he said. She jumped and ran in circles around him while the entire camp sent up a thunderous cheer. She finally settled, leaning her dark brown coat against his legs. He sank his left hand into her fur.
“No matter what, Hayden, you have a place here,” Damien said, knowing the risk. There was a good chance that if Mila’s abilities increased through the blood-bond, Hayden’s would decrease. Nature had a way of balancing abilities through the blood-bond, putting a couple on equal footing.
With a nod to Damien, Hayden dropped beside Mila to shift. A symphony of howls sounded through the area as the pack followed suit, shifting.
To Hayden’s utter shock, he shifted as fast as ever. Mila threw herself against him, knocking his wolf over. He took her body slam and howled with sheer delight.
More howls filled the air as the rest of the pack shifted.
Hayden’s wolf sprang to his feet, pausing only long enough to nip at Mila’s hindquarters, teasing her, enticing her to chase him. Hundreds of paws struck the earth, shaking the ground as the pack followed them deep into the woods.
The howling persisted, moving as one pack wherever Damien was leading them.
Hayden led Mila away from the other wolves and found a spot in the moonlight for just the two of them. He gently grabbed Mila by the throat and pinned her to the ground. They both shifted, him lying atop her, supporting himself on his hands as she slipped her arms around her neck.
“I didn’t weaken you!” Mila said, amazed.
Hayden sank his cock into her, slowly, enjoying every second as he watched those brilliant green eyes stared up at him.
“From the day I met you, my Mila, you’ve been a constant source of sunshine. No power in the world could dampen the light within you.” He took it slow with her, feeling his cock slide into her sweet warmth as the bond wove its way through their souls. Her eyes never moved from his, even as a new heat rose from within. They walked the edge together preparing to launch themselves off that cliff. His body began shaking a new spark wrapped around and entered his soul. Mila.
As the bond snapped into place, her walls clamped around him, holding him tight. He released into his Mila even as her soul moved through him. There were no words. They didn’t need any. This was what life was about, being with his mate, blood-bonded, being one with his Mila.
Chapter Twenty-Four
HAYDEN
Mila slipped her hand into Hayden’s as they entered the cookhouse. They were early, as the party didn’t start for another hour. Hayden looked over at his mate, the confidence on her face. She made him feel so alive. He only wished he shared her confidence. Taking her to Drake’s pack didn’t sit right with him. There were bad memories there for her, but as she reminded him, there were bad memories for him there as well. She was right.
“Stop worrying,” she said as she closed the door behind her.
Hayden swung his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close so he could kiss her temple. “It’s my job.”
“Everything will be fine,” she said, trying to reassure him as they entered the cookhouse. “Has Damien given you his answer yet?”
“I haven’t asked him yet.” Hayden had been avoiding asking Damien to release him from his loyalty oath. Alphas only released lower-ranking shifters, usually when they moved to another pack to blood-bond. Never a second or an enforcer. There were too many secrets regarding pack safety to protect. Hayden could never swear a loyalty oath to Drake unless Damien first released him. To do otherwise would be considered treason.
“Maybe it’s just as well. I don’t like the idea of you swearing an oath to Drake.”
“I don’t like it any better.” Hayden stopped walking. “Please understand, Mila, I need to be there. To fix what I can.”
“You can’t fix Drake.”
“No, but I can repair some of what’s broken in him, in me.”
Mila cupped his jaw. “There’s nothing broken in you, but you’re right. This is something you need to do.” Her hands traveled down his shirt and under. He loved the feel of her hands on him.
“What if Damien doesn’t release you?” she asked. Her eyes were focused on his face, but her hands were dipping into his jeans, just an inch, teasing him. He wasn’t even sure she was doing so intentionally. Since they blood-bonded, they had barely made it out of their cabin. Anna and Blade were having a gender reveal party tonight at the cookhouse and they had to go. Anna had run a blood test in the lab, against Blade’s wishes, and learned the baby’s gender. Blade couldn’t take not knowing any longer, so they decided to have a party.
“You keep touching me like that and you may find yourself in Anna’s position soon enough?”
“What? Anna has a horny shifter tying her up and torturing her in bed, in the shower, and wherever else he damn well pleases, too?” Mila said, just as her hand pressed against his cock, his very hard cock now, thanks to her.
“I’m sure she does, actually. How else do you think he knocked her up so quickly?”
“You’re changing the subject again, Hayden. You do that a lot when it comes to your brother. You’re going to have to get past that because I’m not going to let you hold in all your frustrations when we get down there.”
“If we get down there. We’ll probably be stuck here.”
She grabbed his crotch, grabbing his full attention. “That’s why you need to go. You feel trapped, stuck, and you need to move on. If this is the only way to do it, then we do it. Stop stalling and talk to Damien. He’ll understand.”
“You’re playing dirty giving a guy an ultimatum when you’re holding his balls. Of course, if you put your mouth where your hand is, then we can talk,” he said with a wry grin.
Yeah, he was procrastinating, but with her hand on his dick which was beyond rock hard at this point, he didn’t really care to think about Drake or Damien.
“It’s not that I’m eager to live in Drake’s pack, but they need you. And you need this. I think it will go a long way toward helping you heal.”
He pressed her against him and gave her a long kiss. “I know another way to help me heal.”
She looked around the party room, with its pink and blue balloons and streamers. The tablecloths were out, stacked with plates and silverware for the reveal cake later. No one else was here yet, but the room was hardly set up for screwing. Mila bit her lower lip and walked her fingers up his chest. He knew that look. She had an idea she wasn’t sure he’d like. He chuckled. The woman still didn’t realize she enjoyed the risk of being caught, even overheard, and she always looked to him to give the final okay, as if he’d ever say no to her. He’d gladly sink into her sweet soft body anywhere, anytime she wanted.
“Want to explore the upstairs?” she asked.
She didn’t have to ask him twice. He grabbed her hand and together they raced up the stairs. He hadn’t been up to the cookhouse’s second floor in some time. There was an office that their former supply master had used and some storage closets, but not much else lent any privacy.
“First door on the left,” Hayden said even as he was unzipping his pants. Mila turned the knob.
“It’s locked.”
Hell, one of the few places that had a lock around here and they found it. She moved to the next door, swinging her shapely ass, making him harder by the second.
“Cleaning closet. Full of chemicals,” she said.
She had worked him up enough. To the point where he was going to start stroking his own dick in a minute.
“Nothing’s empty,” she said, checking the last door.
“Your holes are empty.”
She spun to face him. Her eyes were wide like a trapped doe. She hadn’t realized what she had started. It had been a long three weeks and getting reacquainted in bed yesterday and the day before hadn’t been enough. It would never be enough when she was near.
“Get your ass over here,” he ordered.
She took her time sashaying over to him, the tease.
“Face away.”
“We’re in the hallway, Hayden.”
“Yes,” he answered. He could smell her arousal clearly now. She still didn’t realize she enjoyed risk and he wasn’t going to tell her. In the meantime, he was going to do everything he could to make her squirm, to give her as much excitement as she could handle.
“No one’s downstairs. Yet.”
He placed a hand at the back of her neck, holding her still as he reached around and unbuttoned her jeans. “Don’t move,” he said as he slid down her body, taking her pants down with him.
“No panties,” he said sliding his fingers into her folds. “Were you hoping to get fucked tonight, Mila?”
“I ran out of panties. You’ve shredded them all.”
“Fair enough. Though now that I see how ready you are for me, I’m thinking going commando is a good look for you.” He pushed her jeans around her calves, at the top of her boots, just enough to restrict her movement. His cock was throbbing something fierce from the sight of her on top of that glorious scent of hers.
“Bend over. You know the position.”
“Anyone coming up the steps will see everything,” she protested, even though he felt her desire skyrocket through their bond.
Her excitement became his and he was having trouble controlling himself from thrusting into her. Hayden reached through her legs and pinched her clit to make a point.
She bent over, fingertips touching the wood planks. He slid his fingers through her folds, caressing her until she moaned. “Palms flat on the floor.”
Hayden’s Haven Page 33
